Berbatov stars as Man Utd thrash Wigan

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    By Sam Sheringham
    BBC Sport     Dimitar Berbatov Berbatov was the Premier League’s top goalscorer last season

    Dimitar Berbatov scored a hat-trick as Manchester United thrashed 10-man Wigan to move level on points with Premier League leaders Manchester City.

    Park Ji-sung coolly slotted the hosts into an early lead before Wigan striker Conor Sammon was harshly sent off for catching Michael Carrick in the face.

    Berbatov fired United 2-0 ahead and netted the third after the break with a neat turn and powerful finish.

    Antonio Valencia rifled into the corner before Berbatov scored from the spot.

    United form coming at right time – Ferguson

    Wigan were enraged by referee Phil Dowd’s decision to award the penalty for an Antolin Alcaraz challenge on Park which took place just outside the box.

    But the scoreline did not flatter United, who have now hit 16 goals in four successive league victories to reignite their title challenge.

    City’s 0-0 draw at West Brom means both teams have 45 points, with City’s lead on goal difference now cut to only five.

    And United’s victory was all the more impressive given the makeshift nature of a team depleted by illness and injuries.

    Michael Carrick and Antonio Valencia lined up in defence, Darron Gibson in midfield and Berbatov was handed a rare opportunity alongside Javier Hernandez up front.

    ATHLETIC AGONY

    Wigan have now lost all 14 of their matches against Manchester United

    For their part, Wigan came into the game off the back of impressive draws with Chelsea and Liverpool but, after conceding an early goal, their chances of getting anything out of the game were effectively ended by the dismissal of Sammon.

    The striker’s flailing arm caught Carrick in the face, but there appeared to be little aggressive intent in the incident.

    The red card ended any chance of a contest, but in truth United had shown plenty of menace even before Park’s early strike.

    The goal was brilliantly created by Patrice Evra on the left, who skipped past two Wigan players and cut the ball back for Park to side-foot precisely into the net.

    It was 15 minutes before Wigan enjoyed any sort of sustained possession, but when they did it prompted a great chance for Sammon.

    Red card was wrong call – Martinez

    Ronnie Stam’s cross from the right was inviting for the lone striker but he inexplicably failed to get any sort of header on the ball.

    United were soon back on the offensive with a Nani cross sparking mayhem in the Wigan box and Gibson, Ryan Giggs and Berbatov trying their luck from long range.

    Stam remained Wigan’s brightest spark, getting in behind Evra on the right and delivering a succession of crosses which Wigan’s forwards were unable to make the most of.

    The momentum swung back United’s way as Sammon’s controversial red card was swiftly followed by Berbatov’s second goal in as many games.

    A Gibson cross was flicked on by Hernandez to the Bulgarian, who held off Alcaraz and lashed home with his left foot.

    United almost extended their advantage at the start of the second half, but Park’s free header was directed straight at Wigan keeper Ali Al Habsi.

    Hernandez then had a penalty appeal turned down despite being wrestled to the ground by Maynor Figueroa.

    FESTIVE CHEER

    United have won their last eight Boxing Day matches

    United’s sense of grievance was short-lived as Berbatov collected a pass from Valencia and fired past Al Habsi.

    Valencia then made it 4-0 with a rasping drive across Al Habsi after a corner was cleared straight to Carrick.

    Then came the penalty incident which presented Berbatov with the chance for his hat-trick, an invitation the Bulgarian gratefully accepted by passing the ball into the corner of the net.

    Wigan never gave up but could not create a clear opportunity as United keeper Anders Lindegaard maintained his 100% Premier League clean sheet record.

    Wigan boss Roberto Martinez: “The red card is a shocking decision. There was a little bit of a fight, as there was every time the two players went for the ball. None of them should have been a red card. None of them were malicious. There was no intent.

    “If you want to show a red card using those standards, do it, then you will end up with six men each.

    “Anyone who has been on a football pitch knows that incident was a normal action.

    “I was surprised when he gave the free-kick. To see the red card, I was gobsmacked.”

    Live text and stats

     

    Monday, 26 December 2011

    Premier League

    Home Team Score Away Team Time
    Man Utd 5-0 Wigan FT
    (HT 2-0)
    • Park Ji-sung 8
    • Berbatov 41
    • Berbatov 58
    • Valencia 75
    • Berbatov (pen) 78
    • Final Result
    • Full Time
    • 90:00+2:24 The referee signals the end of the game.
    • 90:00+1:40 Centre by Ronnie Stam, Anders Lindegaard makes a save.
    • 90:00+0:44 Shot from long distance by Antolin Alcaraz misses to the right of the goal.
    • 88:58 Darron Gibson takes a shot. Save by Ali Al Habsi.
    • 87:03 Maynor Figueroa has an effort at goal from just inside the box that misses to the left of the target.
    • 85:32 Unfair challenge on Federico Macheda by Antolin Alcaraz results in a free kick. The free kick is delivered right-footed by Wayne Rooney from left wing, Antolin Alcaraz manages to make a clearance.
    • 83:25 James McArthur fouled by Wayne Rooney, the ref awards a free kick. Ronnie Stam takes the direct free kick.
    • 82:35 The ball is crossed by Antonio Valencia.
    • 82:06 Centre by Antonio Valencia, clearance by Antolin Alcaraz.
    • 79:34 Free kick taken by James McCarthy.
    • 79:34 Substitution (Wigan) makes a substitution, with Hugo Rodallega coming on for Victor Moses.
    • 79:34 Foul by Wayne Rooney on Franco Di Santo, free kick awarded.
    • 79:04 The ball is crossed by Federico Macheda, save by Ali Al Habsi.
    • 77:49 Ji-Sung Park provided the assist for the goal.
    • 77:49 GOAL – Dimitar Berbatov:Man Utd 5 – 0 Wigan Dimitar Berbatov scores a placed penalty. Man Utd 5-0 Wigan.
    • 76:56 Ji-Sung Park fouled by Antolin Alcaraz, the ref awards a Penalty.
    • 74:49 Michael Carrick provided the assist for the goal.
    • 74:49 GOAL – Antonio Valencia:Man Utd 4 – 0 Wigan A goal is scored by Antonio Valencia from the edge of the area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Man Utd 4-0 Wigan.
    • 74:28 Outswinging corner taken by Wayne Rooney from the right by-line, Antolin Alcaraz makes a clearance.
    • 74:18 Antonio Valencia produces a cross, James McCarthy gets a block in.
    • 73:56 Corner taken short by Wayne Rooney.
    • 73:51 Wayne Rooney sends in a cross, James McArthur manages to make a clearance.
    • 73:20 Wayne Rooney takes a inswinging corner from the left by-line to the near post, James McCarthy makes a clearance.
    • 73:13 The ball is crossed by Federico Macheda, save by Ali Al Habsi.
    • 70:31 Substitution James McArthur replaces Jordi Gomez.
    • 70:21 Wayne Rooney has an effort at goal from outside the box which goes wide left of the goal.
    • 69:54 Antolin Alcaraz produces a cross, save by Anders Lindegaard.
    • 69:33 The ball is sent over by Wayne Rooney, clearance by Antolin Alcaraz.
    • 68:54 Wayne Rooney is adjudged to have handled the ball. Direct free kick taken by Jordi Gomez.
    • 67:43 Javier Hernandez takes a shot. Save made by Ali Al Habsi.
    • 67:38 Shot by Wayne Rooney. Blocked by Javier Hernandez.
    • 67:35 The ball is swung over by Ezekiel Fryers.
    • 67:03 Short corner worked by Antonio Valencia. The ball is crossed by Antonio Valencia.
    • 66:53 The ball is swung over by Ji-Sung Park, Jordi Gomez gets a block in.
    • 65:08 Franco Di Santo takes a shot. Save by Anders Lindegaard.
    • 64:08 The ball is crossed by Ezekiel Fryers. Effort on goal by Ji-Sung Park from just inside the area clears the bar. Foul by Federico Macheda on Ronnie Stam, free kick awarded. Ronnie Stam takes the direct free kick.
    • 63:02 Substitution Ryan Giggs goes off and Wayne Rooney comes on.
    • 63:02 Substitution Federico Macheda joins the action as a substitute, replacing Luis Nani.
    • 62:11 Maynor Figueroa fouled by Luis Nani, the ref awards a free kick. Maynor Figueroa restarts play with the free kick.
    • 61:18 Ryan Giggs concedes a free kick for a foul on Jordi Gomez. Gary Caldwell restarts play with the free kick.
    • 61:13 The ball is delivered by Ji-Sung Park, clearance by Jordi Gomez.
    • 60:56 Antonio Valencia delivers the ball, clearance made by Antolin Alcaraz.
    • 57:55 The assist for the goal came from Antonio Valencia.
    • 57:55 GOAL – Dimitar Berbatov:Man Utd 3 – 0 Wigan Dimitar Berbatov fires in a goal from inside the penalty area to the top right corner of the goal. Man Utd 3-0 Wigan.
    • 55:58 Franco Di Santo decides to take a short corner.
    • Correction – 53:53 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Victor Moses by Patrice Evra. David Jones has an effort direct from the free kick.
    • 53:53 Unfair challenge on Victor Moses by Patrice Evra results in a free kick. David Jones has a direct shot on goal from the free kick.
    • 52:57 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Victor Moses by Patrice Evra. Jordi Gomez takes the direct free kick.
    • 48:43 Corner taken left-footed by Ryan Giggs, Header from deep inside the penalty area by Dimitar Berbatov goes harmlessly over the crossbar.
    • 47:36 Darron Gibson has an effort at goal from outside the penalty box which goes wide right of the target.
    • 47:19 Dimitar Berbatov produces a cross. The ball is delivered by Luis Nani.
    • 46:48 Foul by Victor Moses on Michael Carrick, free kick awarded. Michael Carrick takes the free kick.
    • 46:27 Javier Hernandez delivers the ball, Ji-Sung Park takes a shot. Save by Ali Al Habsi.
    • 45:56 The ball is swung over by Ji-Sung Park, Gary Caldwell manages to make a clearance.
    • 45:17 Antonio Valencia crosses the ball, blocked by James McCarthy.
    • 45:01 The referee blows his whistle to start the second half.
    • 45:01 Substitution Jonathan Evans goes off and Ezekiel Fryers comes on.
    • 45:01 Substitution Franco Di Santo replaces Mohamed Diame.
    • Half Time
    • 45:00+2:21 The referee calls an end to the first half.
    • 45:00+1:04 Shot from 25 yards by Mohamed Diame. Save by Anders Lindegaard.
    • 44:17 Floated corner taken from the left by-line by Luis Nani.
    • 44:10 The ball is delivered by Patrice Evra, Mohamed Diame gets a block in.
    • 42:25 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jordi Gomez by Ryan Giggs. Jordi Gomez restarts play with the free kick.
    • 40:57 Assist by Darron Gibson.
    • 40:57 GOAL – Dimitar Berbatov:Man Utd 2 – 0 Wigan Goal scored by Dimitar Berbatov from close in to the bottom left corner of the goal. Man Utd 2-0 Wigan.
    • 40:37 Antonio Valencia crosses the ball.
    • 40:28 The ball is sent over by Patrice Evra, Maynor Figueroa manages to make a clearance.
    • 40:23 The ball is crossed by Antonio Valencia.
    • 38:43 Direct free kick taken by Michael Carrick.
    • 38:43 Sent off The referee shows Conor Sammon a red card.
    • 38:27 Unfair challenge on Michael Carrick by Conor Sammon results in a free kick.
    • 38:08 A cross is delivered by Patrice Evra, blocked by Antolin Alcaraz.
    • 37:36 The referee penalises Conor Sammon for handball. Ryan Giggs takes the free kick.
    • 36:19 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Conor Sammon by Jonathan Evans. Antolin Alcaraz takes the free kick.
    • 35:47 Darron Gibson has an effort at goal from outside the box which goes wide left of the target.
    • 35:40 Luis Nani delivers the ball, clearance made by Gary Caldwell.
    • 35:16 The ball is delivered by Ronnie Stam, Luis Nani makes a clearance.
    • 33:51 Dimitar Berbatov produces a right-footed shot from just outside the area that goes wide left of the goal.
    • 32:33 Conor Sammon takes a shot. Save by Anders Lindegaard.
    • 31:33 Antonio Valencia gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jordi Gomez. Free kick taken by Ali Al Habsi.
    • 31:24 Centre by Luis Nani, Antolin Alcaraz makes a clearance.
    • 30:27 Centre by Ronnie Stam.
    • 29:17 Ryan Giggs takes a shot. Gary Caldwell gets a block in.
    • 28:11 The ball is swung over by Ronnie Stam, clearance made by Jonathan Evans.
    • 27:43 Victor Moses decides to take a short corner.
    • 27:25 Victor Moses takes a shot. Blocked by Jonathan Evans.
    • 25:42 Dimitar Berbatov fouled by Maynor Figueroa, the ref awards a free kick. Luis Nani produces a shot on goal direct from the free kick.
    • 23:27 Jordi Gomez has an effort direct from the free kick. Mohamed Diame challenges Javier Hernandez unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Anders Lindegaard.
    • 23:27 Booking The referee shows Jonathan Evans a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.
    • 23:18 Free kick awarded for a foul by Jonathan Evans on Jordi Gomez.
    • 22:38 The ball is crossed by Luis Nani, clearance made by Antolin Alcaraz.
    • 21:25 Free kick taken by Antonio Valencia.
    • 21:25 Booking David Jones shown a yellow card.
    • 21:11 Ji-Sung Park fouled by David Jones, the ref awards a free kick.
    • 20:51 Luis Nani challenges Ronnie Stam unfairly and gives away a free kick. Ronnie Stam takes the free kick.
    • 19:57 The ball is crossed by Darron Gibson, save by Ali Al Habsi.
    • 19:40 Antonio Valencia sends in a cross, blocked by Jordi Gomez.
    • 19:04 Luis Nani decides to take the corner short.
    • 18:54 Darron Gibson takes a shot. Gary Caldwell gets a block in.
    • 18:29 The ball is delivered by Ronnie Stam, Luis Nani gets a block in.
    • 18:00 Javier Hernandez sends in a cross, save by Ali Al Habsi.
    • 17:12 Luis Nani sends in a cross, Gary Caldwell manages to make a clearance.
    • 16:19 Centre by Michael Carrick.
    • 15:33 Luis Nani takes a inswinging corner to the near post, clearance by Mohamed Diame.
    • 15:24 The ball is delivered by Dimitar Berbatov, clearance made by Gary Caldwell.
    • 13:34 Centre by Ronnie Stam.
    • 11:55 Antonio Valencia crosses the ball, Maynor Figueroa gets a block in.
    • 11:24 A cross is delivered by Antonio Valencia, clearance by Maynor Figueroa.
    • 10:20 Corner taken left-footed by Ryan Giggs from the right by-line, clearance made by David Jones.
    • Correction – 10:01 Antonio Valencia produces a cross, Jordi Gomez gets a block in.
    • 10:01 A cross is delivered by Ji-Sung Park, David Jones gets a block in.
    • 9:19 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Michael Carrick by James McCarthy. Free kick taken by Luis Nani.
    • 9:11 Centre by Ryan Giggs, Maynor Figueroa makes a clearance.
    • 8:36 Short corner taken by Ryan Giggs from the right by-line.
    • 8:28 Ji-Sung Park produces a cross, blocked by James McCarthy.
    • 7:17 Assist by Patrice Evra.
    • 7:17 GOAL – Ji-Sung Park:Man Utd 1 – 0 Wigan Ji-Sung Park fires in a goal from inside the box to the top right corner of the goal. Man Utd 1-0 Wigan.
    • 7:14 Patrice Evra sends in a cross,
    • 5:40 The ball is delivered by Antonio Valencia.
    • 4:20 Victor Moses takes a shot. Blocked by Michael Carrick.
    • 3:37 Luis Nani fouled by Conor Sammon, the ref awards a free kick. Michael Carrick restarts play with the free kick.
    • 0:42 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Dimitar Berbatov by Antolin Alcaraz. The free kick is delivered left-footed by Ryan Giggs from left wing, blocked by Conor Sammon.
    • 0:00 The match begins.

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